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Page last updated at 15:22 GMT, Thursday, 3 July 2008 16:22 UK

Militants 'fire rocket' from Gaza

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A rocket from the Gaza Strip has landed in southern Israel, the Israeli army says, putting more strain on a fragile truce with Gaza's Hamas rulers.

The Israeli military said the rocket landed in an open field near the town of Sderot without causing casualties.

It is the sixth reported rocket strike since the took effect on 19 June.

Israel has responded to the attacks by closing border crossings used to bring supplies into Gaza. Both sides accuse the other of truce violations.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket fire.

On Wednesday, Israel reopened three goods border crossings with Gaza, a day after it closed them in response to an earlier rocket attack.

Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip a year ago, driving out security forces loyal to the Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas officials say they are respecting the truce and will arrest anyone who violates it.

The militants also say Israel has been closing the cargo crossings into Gaza in violation of the ceasefire terms.

Reports from Palestinian human rights groups say that Israeli forces have broken the ceasefire by shooting at farmers near the border and at fishermen.

The truce is designed to halt Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip, and stop rockets and mortars being fired from Gaza into southern Israel.

Israel tightened its restrictions on travel in and out of Gaza last year, sharply cutting back on supplies into the impoverished and crowded territory after the Hamas takeover.





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